Welcome to Common Gunsense

I hope this blog will provoke some thoughtful reflection about the issue of guns and gun violence. I am passionate about the issue and would love to change some misperceptions and the culture of gun violence in America by sharing with readers words, photos, videos and clips from articles to promote common sense about gun issues. Many of you will agree with me- some will not. I am only one person but one among many who think it's time to do something about this national problem. The views expressed by me in this blog do not represent any group with which I am associated but are rather my own personal opinions and thoughts.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Shutter-type window treatments and a chandelier was at the center of an altercation that claimed the lives of a father and daughter who had bought a foreclosed Rosedale Park home, according to testimony Wednesday during a preliminary examination for the man charged in the shootings.

Alonzo Long Jr., a 22-year-old relative of the current homeowner, was charged Dec. 1 with fatally shooting 72-year-old Howard Franklin and his daughter, Catherine Franklin, 37, during a gun battle outside the home around 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28. (...) Moments after Long entered the home, Williams said he saw the gunfire and then saw Catherine Franklin stumble out of the home holding a gun in her hand and collapsing on the front porch.(...) It is not clear who fired the first shots in the altercation. More details about the incident are expected to come out Jan. 2 when the preliminary examination continues."

A gun battle. We are talking about a gun battle inside of a home. Are we at war or living in the Wild West? We will learn more soon enough. But clearly having a gun in this situation did not protect the woman from being shot. And it's possible that if she pulled out her gun it escalated the situation. The thing is, guns are dangerous weapons designed to kill. They are a risk to their owners and others. Had there been no guns in this case, there would very likely be no dead people. Add these 2 to the stats for gun homicides in 2014.

Some people should not have guns.

Check out just a few:

A Tennessee boy shot his sister in the face at his grandmother's home. She did not die but see if you agree with me that this statement from the woman is just plain insanity: "Boylan tells WREG she lost a daughter to a gun accident years ago, and she’s incredibly thankful she didn’t lose a granddaughter to the same tragedy Sunday night." Apparently she learned nothing from the first tragedy which took the life of her own daughter. This is total irresponsibility and negligence. And the article ends with this wise statement: "The family is urging people to put their guns away and get a lock, so they don’t have to go through this family’s living nightmare." Right. But some people are just not getting the message.

There's an armed gunman on the loose in Waco, Texas after he fired 13 shots at a news station meteorologist. This happened in a parking lot in broad daylight for reasons we may or may not find out if the shooter is found and the victim starts talking about the incident. Anyone who thinks he could have defended himself if only he had had a gun is insane. These things happen so quickly there is no time to think. According to officers, he likely saved his life by getting into his car and driving away from the scene. People should be safe from shootings in the morning in parking lots. There are too many guns on our streets.

A Philadelphia police officer shot and killed one of his girlfriends in spite of having 75- yes 75- harassment and stalking charges against him. From the article: " Philadelphia police officer with a history of stalking and harassing his former lovers fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and wounded her daughter on Monday, police said." As the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence posted on their Facebook page today:" We will say this... In contemporary America, if you want to become romantically involved with a guy who's into guns, you better be damn sure he's not capable of snapping. Otherwise, you are taking on real risk that could lead to tragedy." He snapped. People snap. When people with guns snap, the result is often tragedy. Be careful about who you are dating. Domestic shootings like this are all too common. Angry men ( it is mostly men) with guns are potentially dangerous. Guns change the equation.

But of course the NRA and others in the corporate gun lobby are fighting bills like background checks for all sales and bills to make sure stalkers and abusers don't have guns because......... because......... because...... Hmmm. Why would we want people like the officer ( above) who shot his ex-girlfriend to have access to guns? Is there any good reason to oppose the bill? But never mind common sense. The corporate gun lobby has none of it. Sales are more important than lives.

So are there conclusions to be drawn from all of this? I would say yes. First of all, it's clear that in the incidents I wrote about above, having a gun in the home or on one's person resulted in tragedy. Without the gun- no death, period. Too many people with guns snap and in an instant, lives are lost. Too many children have access to loaded guns and in an instant, another child is dead or injured. Too many felons, domestic abusers and dangerously mentally ill people have access to guns and use them in deadly shootings on a regular basis in America.

Looking at the facts from what Dr. Wintermute pulled together from actual gun deaths, it turns out that more guns have not made us safer. Indeed, the opposite is true. Those with more guns have a higher chance of being killed by that gun in a gun homicide, suicide or "accident." In other words, guns are contributing to an American public health epidemic which is going to eclipse auto accidents soon for the number of violent deaths of Americans. Deaths from car accidents are going down- most likely due to increased awareness, education about drunk driving, stricter penalties for drunk driving, increased safety features on cars and generally more safety awareness. That is what is needed for the gun violence epidemic. And it can be done if the corporate gun lobby gets out of the way and lets common sense take over. This is a no-brainer. More guns=more gun deaths. Stricter gun laws=fewer gun deaths. More pubic awareness about safe gun ownership can lead to saving lives. Changing the culture of guns is key to saving lives. Gun owners need to be safe and more responsible with their guns. And don't bring guns to an argument about chandeliers.

Let's get to work.

UPDATE:

As always, it doesn't take long to find one more example of irresponsible and negligent gun owners allowing access to their guns to small children. This South Carolina mother made a very tragic mistake. She wrongly determined that her 3 year old could not reach the loaded gun she had placed in a dresser drawer. Let's take a look:

A 3-year-old South Carolina boy accidentally shot and killed himself after climbing a stack of Christmas presents to reach his late father’s handgun.

The child’s mother told investigators she placed the 9-mm handgun, which she believed was unloaded, under some clothes in a dresser drawer in their Simpsonville home.

But authorities said her son, identified as Michael Kyron Boyles, somehow spotted the weapon and managed to gain access to the gun, which he accidentally fired and shot himself in the head.

Totally avoidable and senseless. Parents need to assume that their children WILL find their guns and take measures to store them safely away, unloaded, from small hands. And don't ever assume there is not a bullet in the chamber.

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Comments are allowed but are moderated for civility and decency. My blog is intended to change public opinion about the gun debate and all readers will not agree with me. No comments that demean, debase, attack, call names, or are generally impolite, rude and offensive will be published. In general, comments that are "snarky", mean, overly aggressive or harassing will not be published. Keep the language clean and respectful. Anonymous commenters are not allowed on this blog. Thanks to my readers for participating.